Content request by location

ABSTRACT

A method of obtaining media content of an event, comprising: identifying a real-life event and, a time of said real-life event a geographic location of the real-life event; identifying a subset of a plurality of client terminals of users located in proximity to the geographic location of the real-life event at said time of said real-life event; sending a message to the subset of client terminals containing a request to acquire media content documenting the real-life event; and receiving at least one media content item documenting the real-life event from at least one client terminal of the subset of client terminals, the at least one media content item acquired by at least one user of the users using the at least one client terminal in response to the message.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/134,594, filed on Sep. 18, 2018,which is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/712,937, filed on Sep. 22, 2017, which isa continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/371,379 filed onDec. 7, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/805,489 filed on Jul. 22, 2015, now issued as U.S. Pat. No.9,521,515, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119(e) ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/107,588 filed on Jan. 26,2015, the contents of each being incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to acquiringmedia content and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to acquiringmedia content by matching geographic locations of events and users.

People who are interested in media from a real-life event may searchthis media over the internet, for example in news websites, blogs etc.People may also view media content from an event when such media isposted by others who attended the event, for example in social networkplatforms. Many of these media content items are created and uploaded byusers using mobile devices such as smartphones and/or tablet computers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention,there is provided a method of obtaining media content of an event,comprising: identifying a real-life event, a time of the real-life eventand a geographic location of the real-life event; identifying a subsetof a plurality of client terminals of users located in proximity to thegeographic location of the real-life event at the time of the real-lifeevent; sending a message to the subset of client terminals containing arequest to acquire media content documenting the real-life event; andreceiving at least one media content item documenting the real-lifeevent from at least one client terminal of the subset of clientterminals, the at least one media content item acquired by at least oneuser of the users using the at least one client terminal in response tothe message.

Optionally, the method further comprises: identifying a second subset ofthe plurality of client terminals of users potentially interested in thereal-life event; and automatically providing the at least one mediacontent item to the second subset of client terminals.

More optionally, the providing includes sending a message with areference to a web document containing the at least one media contentitem.

Optionally, the method further comprises: providing the at least onemedia content item to at least one client terminal of the subset ofclient terminals of users potentially interested in the real-life event.

More optionally, the providing includes sending a message with areference to a web document containing the at least one media contentitem.

Optionally, the identifying of the real-life event comprises: receivinga message from a first client terminal of the plurality of clientterminals, the message containing a request from a user of the firstclient terminal to receive a media content documenting the real-lifeevent.

More optionally, the method further comprises: providing the at leastone media content item to the first client terminal.

Optionally, the identifying of the real-life event includes identifyinga search action of the real-life event by a first client terminal of theplurality of client terminals.

More optionally, the method further comprises: providing the at leastone media content item to the first client terminal.

Optionally, the identifying of the real-life event includes using anautomatic algorithm connected to at least one events source.

Optionally, the identifying of the real-life event is done manually byentering event details into an event dataset.

Optionally, the method further comprises: sending a message with areference to a web document containing the at least one media contentitem to at least one client terminal of the plurality of clientterminals.

Optionally, the method further comprises: providing the at least onemedia content item to at least one third party to be presented by thethird party in relation to the real-life event.

Optionally, the identifying of the subset of client terminals comprises:monitoring geographic locations of the plurality of client terminals;and automatically identifying when at least one of the plurality ofclient terminals is located in proximity to the geographic location ofthe real-life event.

Optionally, the identifying of the subset of client terminals includesaccessing at least one calendar stored in a memory of at least one ofthe plurality of client terminals.

Optionally, the identifying includes ranking of the subset of clientterminals according to past media content items received from each ofthe plurality of client terminals.

Optionally, the message includes instructions for acquiring the mediacontent item.

Optionally, the message includes coordinates of the geographic locationof the real-life event to be included in a map that indicates thegeographic location and presented on a screen of each of the subset ofclient terminals.

Optionally, the message includes text instructions to arrive at ageographic location and/or coordinates of the geographic location of thereal-life event to be included in a map that indicates the geographiclocation. The text instructions and the map are presented on a screen ofeach of the subset of client terminals.

More optionally, the map includes multiple identified geographiclocations of real-life events.

Optionally, the message includes instructions for connecting the mediacontent item to the real-life event.

Optionally, the at least one media content item is received by a messagewith a reference to a web document containing the at least one mediacontent item.

Optionally, the at least one user is credited for acquiring the at leastone media content item.

Optionally, the at least one media content item is aggregated with othermedia content items.

According to some embodiments of the invention, there is provided acomputer readable medium comprising computer executable instructionsadapted to perform the method.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention,there is provided a system for obtaining media content of an event,comprising: an event module that identifies a real-life event, a time ofthe real-life event and a geographic location of the real-life event; atracking module that identifies a subset of a plurality of clientterminals of users located in proximity to the geographic location ofthe real-life event at the time of the real-life event; and acommunication module that: sends a message to the subset of clientterminals containing a request to acquire media content documenting thereal-life event; and receives at least one media content itemdocumenting the real-life event from at least one client terminal of thesubset of client terminals, the at least one media content item acquiredby at least one user of the users using the at least one client terminalin response to the message.

Optionally, the method further comprises: an event dataset for storingthe real-life event, the time of the real-life event and the geographiclocation of the real-life event.

Optionally, the method further comprises: a media dataset for storingthe at least one media content item.

Optionally, the method further comprises: an aggregation module thataggregates the media content item with other media content items.

Optionally, the event module receives event details from an eventalgorithm that analyzes information from at least one events source.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms usedherein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used inthe practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, exemplarymethods and/or materials are described below. In case of conflict, thepatent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition,the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are notintended to be necessarily limiting.

Implementation of the method and/or system of embodiments of theinvention can involve performing or completing selected tasks manually,automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover, according to actualinstrumentation and equipment of embodiments of the method and/or systemof the invention, several selected tasks could be implemented byhardware, by software or by firmware or by a combination thereof usingan operating system.

For example, hardware for performing selected tasks according toembodiments of the invention could be implemented as a chip or acircuit. As software, selected tasks according to embodiments of theinvention could be implemented as a plurality of software instructionsbeing executed by a computer using any suitable operating system. In anexemplary embodiment of the invention, one or more tasks according toexemplary embodiments of method and/or system as described herein areperformed by a data processor, such as a computing platform forexecuting a plurality of instructions. Optionally, the data processorincludes a volatile memory for storing instructions and/or data and/or anon-volatile storage, for example, a magnetic hard-disk and/or removablemedia, for storing instructions and/or data. Optionally, a networkconnection is provided as well. A display and/or a user input devicesuch as a keyboard or mouse are optionally provided as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specificreference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that theparticulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrativediscussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, thedescription taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled inthe art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart schematically representing a method for obtainingmedia content documenting an event by requesting a user located inproximity to the event at the time of the event to acquire the media,according to some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a system for obtaining mediacontent documenting an event by requesting a user located in proximityto the event at the time of the event to acquire the media, according tosome embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary application user interface (UI) of an applicationof obtaining media content documenting an event, according to someembodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a sequence chart schematically representing an exemplaryscenario of obtaining media content documenting an event, according tosome embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to acquiringmedia content and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to acquiringmedia content by matching geographic locations of events and users.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, there areprovided methods and systems for acquiring media content, such asimages, videos, voice recordings and/or text, documenting a real-lifeevent such as a concert, a sport game or a demonstration, by requestingusers who are in proximity to the event at the time of the event, toacquire the media content.

When the method is applied, a real-life event and geographic locationare identified. This is done either by receiving requests from usersinterested in the event, automatically by an algorithm that scansmultiple sources and/or manually. Client terminals of users in proximityto the geographic location of the event at the time of the event areidentified, for example by a global positioning system (GPS) device ofthe client terminals. A message is then sent to the client terminals,containing a request to acquire media content documenting the event. Theuser may then respond by acquiring a media content item, for exampletake a photo of the event using the camera of his mobile phone, andupload it to the system. The media content items acquired by the usersof the client terminals are then received by the system.

Optionally, the media content is then distributed, for example sent tothe users who requested for the media content, sent to other userspotentially interested in the event, posted online as part of othercontent relating to the event and/or provided to third parties.

The method allows users to act as momentary reporters and provide mediacontent from their position, for example current position, knowing thattheir media content is requested, and may be viewed by multiple peopleand not just their friends. The method has the advantage of receivingmedia content in real-time, from events that may be unpredicted, remoteand/or too obscure to send a reporter. Also, the method allows users torequest media from events they are interested in. The media contentdocumenting an event may be received from multiple users, thereforehaving the advantages of multi-perspective coverage of the event.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement of thecomponents and/or methods set forth in the following description and/orillustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The invention iscapable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out invarious ways.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk. C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a standalone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN) or the connection may be made to an external computer (forexample, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). Insome embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

Referring now to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flowchart schematicallyrepresenting a method of obtaining media content documenting an event byrequesting a user located in proximity to the event at the time of theevent to acquire the media, according to some embodiments of the presentinvention. Reference is also made to FIG. 2, which is a schematicillustration of a system of obtaining media content documenting an eventby requesting a user located in proximity to the event at the time ofthe event to acquire the media, according to some embodiments of thepresent invention.

System 200 may include one or more computing devices, for example, amainframe computer, an enterprise server, a workstation, multipleconnected computers and/or a personal computer.

System 200 is connected via a network to multiple client terminals 210,each used by a user. The network may include, for example, local areanetwork (WLAN), a wireless network such as mobile network, wirelesslocal area network (WLAN) such as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi™), a wirelesspersonal area network (WPAN) such as Bluetooth™ protocol and/or anyother network.

Client terminals 210 may include, for example, a mobile device such as aSmartphone, a tablet, a wearable device such as Google glass, a Smartwatch, a laptop computer and/or the like, a personal computer and/or anydevice that has one or more network communication modules, such as anetwork card or chip and runs a web-browser.

Each client terminal may include a program such as an App Storeapplication or a Google Play application installed in the clientterminal, a native operating system application and/or a browser add-on.

First, as shown in 101, a real-life event, the time of the event and thegeographic location of the event are identified by an event module 201.The time of the event may be the current time for currently occurringevents or may be a future time, for future events.

The real-life event may be, for example, a multi participant event suchas a concert, a demonstration, a conference, and/or a sport game, anatural event such as a weather phenomena and/or an eclipse, and/or anyother occasion or incident. The real-life event may also be general, forexample, a city during a time period of a few months. The real-lifeevent may be scheduled in advance or occurring as an outcome ofcircumstances, for instance a terror attack and/or a gathering of peopleinduced by a presence of a celebrity, an artist and/or the like. Forbrevity, a real-life event may be referred to herein as an event.

Optionally, the event identification is done by receiving requests froma subset of client terminals 211 of client terminals 210 of usersinterested in receiving media content form the event. A user of one ofclient terminals 211 may perform a search for the event and/or mayactively request for media content to be acquired. For example, a useris interested in seeing photos of a concert currently taking place. Therequest may include specific instruction, locations and/or items in theevent. For example: “Please show the crowd roar after a goal in the gamein Old Trafford”. The request may be for a current event or for a futureevent. Optionally, the request may be a search action of the event by auser of one of client terminals 210. The search action may include, forexample, the name of the event, the date or time of the event and/or anyother detail related to the event.

Optionally, the request is indicative of specific information thatshould be included in the media content. Optionally, the specificinformation is of interest to a specific user of one of client terminals211, for example to provide an answer to a specific question. Forexample, a request for an image of a nightclub or a queue to the postoffice, to indicate whether the place is currently crowded.

Optionally, a user who accesses a web document, such as a webpagedisplaying an article, an image, or a video (e.g. file or stream) abouta held or a currently held event, is presented with a graphical userinterface (GUI) that allows him to request for media content relating tothe event. Optionally, a request is received from an agent of a thirdparty such as a news agency and/or a media company, for example via anapplication programming interface (API).

Optionally, the event identification is done by an automatic eventalgorithm 202. Automatic event algorithm 202 may use any source ofinformation available on the internet and/or specialized sources, forexample, databases of events, rich site summary (RSS), news websites,user-generated content such as social networks, forums and/or blogs,search engines, official websites (such as of bands and/or sportleagues) and/or any other source. Optionally, the event identificationis done as described in US Provisional Patent Application No.62/007,974, filed on Jun. 5, 2014 which is incorporated here byreference.

Optionally, the event identification is done by manually providingevents and their geographic location to event module 201, for examplevia an operator user interface (UI) 208. This may be performed, forexample, by employees of a content team using operator UI 208. Contentteam may use any source of information as described above.

Optionally, an event is identified when potential use of media contentdocumenting the event is identified, for example when the event ismentioned in news articles, event feeds, social media posts, chatsand/or any combination thereof.

Optionally, an event is identified only after indication of interestfrom several sources, for example, multiple requests from clientterminals 211, a request from one of client terminals 211 and alsomentions in social networks and/or several mentions in news reports. Forexample, an event is not identified when media content documenting theevent is requested by one user, however, when the event is alsomentioned in a news website, the event is identified.

Events identified by event module 201 may be stored in an event dataset203.

Event dataset 203 may be any kind of structured data collection thatallows access to stored data. Event dataset 203 may be stored, forexample, in a digital data storage unit such as a magnetic drive and/ora solid state drive. Optionally, entries of events stored in eventdataset 203 may be processed, for example by a merge algorithm thatmerges entries that were created as separate events but actuallyindicative of the same event.

Then, as shown in 102, a subset 212 of client terminals 210, which areused by users currently located in proximity to the geographic locationof the event at the time of the event, is identified by a trackingmodule 204.

Optionally, client terminals 212 are identified by monitoring thegeographic location of client terminals 210. The geographic location maybe determined, for example, by a positioning system included in each ofclient terminals 210 such as global positioning system (GPS),triangulation of cellular network, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi™) networkand/or any other locating method.

Optionally, users of client terminals 212 are ranked according to pastuploads of media content. Optionally, users are identified as havingbetter potential to respond to the request, for example, users whoresponded to requests in the past and/or uploaded media content tosocial networks are identified and ranked high. Optionally, users areidentified as having better potential to produce quality uploads, forexample according to quality of past uploads.

Optionally, users who are expected to be in proximity to the geographiclocation of the event at the time of the event are identified prior tothe event, for example, by connecting to calendars stored on clientterminals 210 and identifying future calendar events that are ingeographic proximity and time proximity to the event.

Then, as shown in 103, a message is sent by a communication module 205to client terminals 212. The message contains a request to acquire mediacontent documenting the event. The message may be sent prior to theevent and/or during the time of the event.

Communication module 205 may be, for example, a hardware element such asa network adapter card and/or a software module such as a computerprogram.

The media content may include, for example, images, videos, voicerecordings, text and/or any other media. The message may be sent, forexample, via a messaging service of an application installed on each ofclient terminals 212, mobile notification of the application, via shortmessage service (SMS), an instant messaging (IM), an email and/or by anyother communication method. The message may include specificinstructions for acquiring the media content, for example, as indicatedin the requests sent from client terminals 211 and/or according to otherexisting media content. For example, when most existing videos are takenfrom one angle, users are asked to take videos from a different angle.

Optionally, a map or textual instructions segment is presented in clientterminals 212 to indicate the geographic location of the event. Thetextual instructions may be calculated automatically from map data,navigation application or API and/or taken from a database. Thecoordinates of said geographic location may be included in the message.Optionally, the message contains a request that includes instructionsfor locating the event, for example: “There is a demonstration 400 mnorth of your location. Please show us what's going on”. Optionally, themap includes multiple geographic locations of events for which mediacontent is required.

Optionally, a chat is automatically established between the requestorsand the user(s) who accept the request. For example, the chat isestablished as a group chat of an instant messaging platform and/or asan in application chat that is managed using a chat GUI as known in theart. This allows requestor to personally react to the uploaded content,optionally in real time, for example during a live feed of the contentand/or immediately after the content is uploaded.

Then, as shown in 104, at least one media content item is received fromat least one client terminal of client terminals 212 in response to therequest message.

The media content item documenting the event and acquired by the user ofthe client terminal. The media content item may be acquired, forexample, by sensors included in client terminals 212 such as built-incamera and/or recorder and/or by any other equipment. Optionally, mediacontent items may be acquired by one device, such as a digitalsingle-lens reflex camera (DSLR) and uploaded by a second device, suchas a personal computer. Optionally, the media content item is receivedas a link to media content item uploaded to the internet, for exampleposted in a social network and/or personal blog.

Optionally, instructions are sent to users of client terminals 212 onhow to connect the media content item to the right event, for exampleincluding suggested hash-tag(s) that could be used by a user to tag themedia content item.

Optionally, media content items received from client terminals 212 arestored in a media dataset 206. Media dataset 206 may be any kind ofstructured data collection, as described above.

Then, optionally, as shown in 105, media content items received fromclient terminals 212 are aggregated by aggregation module 207. Forexample, a few images from the event are clustered, combined to create acollage, sorted to create a timeline of the event, sorted according tosubject documented in the media items (for example artist, crowd, stageetc) and/or processed in any other way.

Then, optionally, as shown in 106, a subset 213 of client terminals 210,which are used by users potentially interested in the event, isidentified. Client terminals 213 may include client terminals 211 ofusers that requested media content documenting the event and/or one ormore of client terminals 212 which are in proximity to the event at thetime of the event and may be interested in watching the event from adifferent angle or different interpretation. Optionally, clientterminals 213 may also include one or more of client terminals 210 thatare selected according to use patterns and are identified by analgorithm to identify users that were interested in this type of eventin the past, for example according to visited websites, past requests,interests indicated by users for example in a configuration optionsand/or by any other method.

Then, optionally, as shown in 107, the media content is distributed bycommunication module 205, for example by messages. Optionally, the mediacontent item is provided to client terminals 213 by a message which issent by communication module 205 to client terminals 213, containing themedia content item. The message may be any kind of message, as describedabove. Optionally, the media content item is provided by a message whichcontains a reference to a web document containing the media content. Theweb document that may be, for example, a webpage, an extensible markuplanguage (XML) page, a hypertext markup language (HTML) page, a portabledocument format (PDF), an executable, an email, an audio and/or videofile, an image and/or any other network accessible content file. The webdocument may be a webpage or any other network accessible destination.The web document may include, for example, a visual container thatallows users to explore all the media content from the event. Thereference to the web document may be, for example, a Uniform ResourceLocator (URL) or a Universal Resource Identifier (URI). Optionally, themedia content is distributed by an algorithm, for example anauto-article enrichment algorithm such as described in U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/007,974. Optionally, a suggestion is sent tousers of client terminals 213 to subscribe to media content documentingthe event, for example by a hash-tag.

Optionally, the media content is distributed to third parties such asMedia companies and/or news agencies. This may be implemented in arevenue share model. Optionally, payment is received from the thirdparties. Optionally, third parties are provided with access to mediadataset 206, for example via an application programming interface (API).

Optionally, users are credited for uploading media content whenrequested.

For example, highly credited users are the first to receive mediacontent documenting events and/or get priority when requesting mediacontent. Optionally, users are paid when media content which theyuploaded is sold to a third party.

Optionally, users are credited when media content which they uploaded isviewed, acknowledged and/or shared by others. Optionally, users arecredited for accurately acquiring media content based on specificrequests, for example, a show from a specific angle. Optionally, usersrequesting media content may initiate bidding for providing the requiredmedia content.

Optionally, the frequency of distributing the media content is adjusted,for example based on time, geographic location, other events and/or anyother factor. For example, notifications to client terminals 213 may befrequent during the time of the event and less frequent when the eventis over.

Optionally, the media content is distributed while new media is uploadedby client terminals 212 and is continuously aggregated by aggregationmodule 207.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is an exemplary application userinterlace (UI) of an application of obtaining media content documentingan event, according to some embodiments of the present invention.Reference is also made to FIG. 4, which is a sequence chartschematically representing an exemplary scenario of obtaining mediacontent documenting an event, according to some embodiments of thepresent invention.

First, as shown in 301 and in 401, a user A of group 211 of theapplication is searching for media from the Madonna concert which isabout to start in Vancouver, the system may suggest other popularsearches from Madonna (such as from the last days). Since the concerthas not started yet, very few (if any) media items are available.

Then, as shown in 402, the system then identifies that the Madonnaconcert in Vancouver is an interesting event, as a substantial number ofusers are querying on it.

The system identifies the time of the concert and which venue holds theconcert, for example by using internet sources, and identifies thecellular polygonal perimeter that holds the venue.

Then, as shown in 403, the system sends a notification to users of group212, which are within the polygonal perimeter, such as shown in 302which is a screenshot of the application of user B of group 212, whichinvites people to share what they are viewing right now.

Then, as shown in 404. User B of group 212 takes a photo of Madonna inthe concert. As shown in 303, the application allows for a quick uploadscreen for different type of media.

Then, as shown in 405, user B of group 212 uploads the photo of Madonnato the server of the system. Once the image is uploaded, it isaggregated together with other media uploaded from the Madonna concertin Vancouver, as shown in 406.

Finally, when enough media is gathered from users at the Madonna concertin Vancouver, a notification is send to users who have shown interest inthat event (and others), such as user C of group 213 as shown in 304 and407, and/or such as user A of group 211 who requested for the media, asshown in 408.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

It is expected that during the life of a patent maturing from thisapplication, many relevant methods and systems for acquiring mediacontent will be developed and the scope of the term media content isintended to include all such new technologies a priori.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “having”and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”. This termencompasses the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”.

As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include pluralreferences unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example,the term “a compound” or “at least one compound” may include a pluralityof compounds, including mixtures thereof.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance or illustration”. Any embodiment described as “exemplary” isnot necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otherembodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from otherembodiments.

The word “optionally” is used herein to mean “is provided in someembodiments and not provided in other embodiments”. Any particularembodiment of the invention may include a plurality of “optional”features unless such features conflict.

Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention maybe presented in a range format. It should be understood that thedescription in range format is merely for convenience and brevity andshould not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be consideredto have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well asindividual numerical values within that range. For example, descriptionof a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specificallydisclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numberswithin that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This appliesregardless of the breadth of the range.

Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to includeany cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range.The phrases “ranging/ranges between” a first indicate number and asecond indicate number and “ranging/ranges from” a first indicate number“to” a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and aremeant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all thefractional and integral numerals therebetween.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, forclarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable sub combination or as suitable in any other describedembodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the contextof various embodiments are not to be considered essential features ofthose embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without thoseelements.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modificationsand variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the appended claims.

All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in thisspecification are herein incorporated in their entirety by referenceinto the specification, to the same extent as if each individualpublication, patent or patent application was specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. Inaddition, citation or identification of any reference in thisapplication shall not be construed as an admission that such referenceis available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent thatsection headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarilylimiting.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of obtaining media content of an event,comprising: identifying a first subset of a plurality of clientterminals of a plurality of users, client terminals of the first subsetbeing located in proximity to a geographic location of a real-life eventat a time of the real-life event; identifying a second subset of theplurality of client terminals associated with users potentiallyinterested in the real-life event; sending a message to each clientterminal of the first subset of client terminals, the message containinga request, to present on a respective display of the client terminal, toacquire media content documenting the real-life event in the geographiclocation, the request comprising instructions for imaging the real-lifeevent; and in response to a given client terminal of the first subset ofclient terminals accepting the request, establishing a chat between thegiven client terminal and at least one client terminal of the secondsubset of client terminals.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving, from a first client terminal of the first subsetof client terminals, a media content item in response to the message,the media content item being acquired by the first client terminal andthe media content item documenting the real-life event; and distributingthe media content item to a second client terminal of the second subsetof client terminals.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprisingdistributing the media content item to the second client terminal whilethe media content item is being received from the first client terminal.4. The method of claim 2, wherein the distributing occurring at afrequency determined based on at least one of the time and thegeographic location of the real-life event.
 5. The method of claim 2,wherein the distributing comprises: providing the media content item tothe second client terminal, the providing comprising sending a messagewith a reference to a network-accessible content file containing themedia content item.
 6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:distributing the media content item to at least one third party to bepresented by the at least one third party in relation to the real-lifeevent.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein the media content item isreceived by a message with a reference to a network-accessible contentfile containing the media content item.
 8. The method of claim 2,wherein the media content item is aggregated with other media contentitems.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic location of thereal-life event is identified using a search action that comprisessearching at least one events source which is external to the pluralityof client terminals.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographiclocation of the real-life event is manually provided by a user enteringevent details into an event dataset.
 11. The method of claim 1, whereinthe identifying the first subset of client terminals comprises:monitoring geographic locations of the plurality of client terminals,the identifying being performed in response to at least one of theplurality of client terminals being located in proximity to thegeographic location of the real-life event.
 12. The method of claim 1,wherein the identifying the first subset of client terminals comprisesaccessing at least one calendar stored in a memory of at least one ofthe plurality of client terminals.
 13. The method of claim 1, whereinthe identifying comprises ranking of the first subset of clientterminals according to past media content items received from each ofthe first subset of client terminals.
 14. The method of claim 1, whereinthe instructions comprise at least one text instruction to arrive at thegeographic location, and coordinates of the geographic location of thereal-life event to be included in a map that indicates the geographiclocation, and wherein the at least one text instruction and the map arepresented on a screen of each of the first subset of client terminals.15. The method of claim 14, wherein the map comprises multipleidentified geographic locations of real-life events.
 16. A system ofobtaining media content of an event, comprising: at least one networkinterface; a memory storing a code; and a processor coupled to thememory and the at least one network interface for executing the code,the code causing the processor to perform operations comprising:identifying a first subset of a plurality of client terminals of aplurality of users, client terminals of the first subset being locatedin proximity to a geographic location of a real-life event at a time ofthe real-life event; identifying a second subset of the plurality ofclient terminals associated with users potentially interested in thereal-life event; sending a message to each client terminal of the firstsubset of client terminals, the message containing a request, to presenton a respective display of the client terminal, to acquire media contentdocumenting the real-life event in the geographic location, the requestcomprising instructions for imaging the real-life event; and in responseto a given client terminal of the first subset of client terminalsaccepting the request, establishing a chat between the given clientterminal and at least one client terminal of the second subset of clientterminals.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the operations furthercomprise: receiving, from a first client terminal of the first subset ofclient terminals, a media content item in response to the message, themedia content item being acquired by the first client terminal and themedia content item documenting the real-life event; and distributing themedia content item to a second client terminal of the second subset ofclient terminals.
 18. The system of claim 17, further comprisesdistributing the media content item to the second client terminal whilethe media content item is being received from the first client terminal.19. The system of claim 17, wherein the distributing occurring at afrequency determined based on at least one of the time and thegeographic location of the real-life event.
 20. A non-transitorycomputer readable medium comprising computer executable instructionsadapted to perform operations comprising: identifying a first subset ofa plurality of client terminals of a plurality of users, clientterminals of the first subset being located in proximity to a geographiclocation of a real-life event at a time of the real-life event;identifying a second subset of the plurality of client terminalsassociated with users potentially interested in the real-life event;sending a message to each client terminal of the first subset of clientterminals, the message containing a request, to present on a respectivedisplay of the client terminal, to acquire media content documenting thereal-life event in the geographic location, the request comprisinginstructions for imaging the real-life event; and in response to a givenclient terminal of the first subset of client terminals accepting therequest, establishing a chat between the given client terminal and atleast one client terminal of the second subset of client terminals.